Add your name to the petition below to show you do not support the trash tax.

Petition: I Oppose the New Trash Tax in Kokomo

We, the residents of Kokomo, do not support the new trash tax.

This measure raises serious concerns:

• Linking wages to a tax: City leaders suggested this new tax was needed to fund raises for AFSCME workers. These workers deserve fair pay, but tying their raises to a misleading “fee” is disingenuous. Once in place, this tax revenue will flow into the budget– impacting far more than wages.

• Lack of public input: Kokomo residents should have been informed of Senate Bill 1’s (SB1) impact and potential budget shortfalls before such a tax was pushed forward.

• Accountability ignored: SB1 shifted the tax burden from corporations onto local taxpayers. Our elected officials— Rep. Karickoff and Rep. VanNatter—supported SB1. Voters deserve transparency about who is responsible for these higher costs.

• A tax disguised as a fee: Calling this a “fee” is misleading. A fee is voluntary and tied to a service. This charge is mandatory for all residents. That makes it a tax!

We Demand Better

Instead of rushing this tax through, the city should have formed a bipartisan committee, led by the Council’s Finance Committee, to explore the issue openly. Residents deserved to see potential alternatives—whether service cuts or other solutions—before being forced into this new tax.

Kokomo residents deserve honesty, accountability, and a real say in how our city handles its budget. We urge the City Council to commit to a transparent, community-led process in the future.